Encinitas Little League fans ‘red’ and ready for semifinals

All Stars to play in Western Regional Semi-finals on Friday

Tawnia Brower sizes up an Encinitas Little League All Stars t-shirt for purchase from a group of mothers of the teammembers who were selling the t-shirts and related items in support of the team Thursday in front of the Seaside Market in Encinitas. photo by Bill Wechter

Tawnia Brower sizes up an Encinitas Little League All Stars t-shirt for purchase from a group of mothers of the teammembers who were selling the t-shirts and related items in support of the team Thursday in front of the Seaside Market in Encinitas. photo by Bill Wechter

ENCINITAS  From her star-shaped earrings to the tips of her red-and-white-painted toenails, Encinitas Little League All-Star team mom Rachel Workinger can’t wait to cheer on her boy and his teammates at Friday’s West Regional semifinals.

“We’re ready to do it!” she shouted Thursday as she described how she and other moms are approaching this weekend’s games. “We’ve all painted our toes red, with white stars on our big toes with diamond studs on each point … That’s (what) points us out as the team moms.”

The Carlsbad resident, who describes herself as a “real baseball mom,” has been waiting for this moment for more than two decades. “I have five boys, I’ve been doing Little League Baseball for 25 years,” she said.

Her youngest son, 12-year-old E.Q., is third baseman on the Encinitas All-Stars team that has advanced all the way to the West Regional semifinals in San Bernardino. If the team wins its game at 2 p.m. Friday against the Mountain Ridge All-Stars of Las Vegas, it will play in Saturday’s finals. The winner of that game heads to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Encinitas team moms have been holding toenail painting parties since June when the squad began its winning streak. As the team kept moving up in the rankings, the number of people getting their toes done has grown.

For this game, “even the little brother did it,” said mom Mary Ann Telfer. Eight-year-old Trey Telfer and his 9-year-old sister Caryn painted their toes, but 11-year-old Corey wouldn’t go for it — though all three have been great cheerleaders big brother Shane, who is a pitcher for the All Stars.

“They are super excited,” their mom said,

While the moms and grandmas are decorated to the hilt, most of the dads and grandpas are keeping a lower profile. Jim Machado, grandfather of player Austin Machado and father to surfing legion Rob Machado and La Costa Canyon varsity baseball coach Justin Machado, said he’ll show up in the team’s red and white colors, but “we’re a pretty subdued family” and their cheering will reflect this.

If the team wins, he’ll be thrilled, but he’s also ready with a message if they lose — “whatever happens you have to move on,” he said.

Justin Machado said the family will have a huge barbecue party for Austin regardless. Win or lose, it really doesn’t matter in our house,” he said.

The players are already local heroes, he added, saying that Encinitas residents have been coming up to him all this week telling him how proud they are of the team.

“Whatever happens, they’re going to have a little bit of popularity on campus,” the high school baseball coach said, laughing.

The city of Encinitas also will celebrate the team’s accomplishments, win or lose, Mayor Kristin Gaspar said earlier this week.

Typically, the City Council honors winning teams with a proclamation at a city meeting, but this team’s success warrants a full-scale, welcome-home party, Gaspar said, adding that a business may step forward as the host or the city may have the event at one of the parks.